Winemaker Notes
Wine Enthusiast
Vogt Vineyard is situated atop Howell Mountain, along the northeast edge of the Napa Valley. The 15-acre vineyard reaches from a high elevation with shallow, rocky soils, down to a lower bowl of deeper loam. The surprisingly warm climate, combined with the vineyard's steep, southeast exposure, produces a dense and structured wine, typical of hillside Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2005 Vogt Cabernet Sauvignon is an incredible wine. The aromas of jammy fruit and floral notes are dark and intense. The palate offers sweet, rich flavors of blackberry and cassis mixed with floral and spice. Incredibly concentrated, this wine is powerful, yet soft, with firm, polished tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A beautiful Howell Mountain Cab that shows its terroir in the firm, rich tannic structure. And what gorgeous tannins they are, so refined and expressive. The fruit is perfectly ripe, suggesting currants, blackberries, red and black cherries, licorice and a hint of milk chocolate. Rewarding now, and should hold and improve for at least a decade.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.